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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401. 222. 4700 | www. dem. ri. gov | @RhodeIslandDEM CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Evan LaCross, 401-799-0100 Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024 Dem. communications@ dem. ri. gov
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_782" src="cid:image001.png@01DA4DFD.4A993470" alt="DEM-logo-small"></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Evan LaCross, 401-799-0100 Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:Dem.communications@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#3366FF">Dem.communications@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#3366FF">
</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM ROLLING OUT NEW ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION TOOL FOR WASTEWATER OPERATORS TO IMPROVE DATA AND TRANSPARENCY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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Description automatically generated with low confidence" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE,
RI –<span style="color:black"> The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing that its
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Office of Water Resources</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
(OWR) is rolling out a new electronic Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) notification process that will replace written paper submittals, improve data quality, and increase transparency of SSOs. The electronic submission of SSOs and bypass information will be a
required for owners and operators of wastewater facilities starting Feb. 1, 2024 to comply with the reporting requirements of their respective
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/permitting/ripdes"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Rhode Island Discharge
Elimination System (RIPDES)</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> permit. DEM’s implementation of these electronic reporting requirements will ensure that there is consistent and complete reporting
of SSOs and bypasses statewide. This information will also be entered into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) national
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://echo.epa.gov/__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MIC15R6iO0TltYCjhXOpHH2l1oGH6HQhQoEUCgMeTt5KG0I9MLkxQkO7Iavu1S5AVVZk_56oEgAUccZDWMYrHoI_K8H3e4barid1$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Enforcement Compliance History Online (ECHO)</span> [echo.epa.gov]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
website that provides a searchable system to access environmental compliance data in local communities, allowing the public to better estimate the location, frequency, magnitude, and duration of bypasses and SSOs.<span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">
</span><br>
</span><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
DEM hosted a training session about the new electronic submission tool for WWTF operators at its Providence HQ.</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The new
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/permitting/ripdes/ripdes-electronic-reporting"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">NeT-SewerOverflow</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
web-based reporting tool allows RIPDES permittees to electronically sign and submit their reports of SSOs and bypasses to DEM via a secure internet connection. Electronic reporting is now required under the
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MIC15R6iO0TltYCjhXOpHH2l1oGH6HQhQoEUCgMeTt5KG0I9MLkxQkO7Iavu1S5AVVZk_56oEgAUccZDWMYrHoI_K8H3e_hQIxLa$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule</span> [federalregister.gov]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">. As part of this rollout, OWR staff provided an in-person training session to RI wastewater
facility operators and permit administrators on Jan. 18 at </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/contact-us/directions"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM’s
Foundry Offices</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> to receive permission to use NeT-SewerOverflow. This new reporting tool relates to
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2023-07/DEM-stratplan23-F_1.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM’s initiative</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
to improve and modernize its systems and operations across the agency. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/permitting/ripdes"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">RIPDES program</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
forms the backbone of Rhode Island’s water pollution control strategy by developing and enforcing permit limits for municipal and industrial wastewaters, stormwater, and combined sewer overflows discharged directly to the waters of the state, as well as industrial
wastewaters discharged to municipally-owned treatment facilities. RIPDES permit limits have led to water quality improvements throughout Rhode Island and</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:white">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">supports OWR’s mission to protect the health of our local waters which are central to our environment, way of life, and economy here in the Ocean State.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
Follow </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MIC15R6iO0TltYCjhXOpHH2l1oGH6HQhQoEUCgMeTt5KG0I9MLkxQkO7Iavu1S5AVVZk_56oEgAUccZDWMYrHoI_K8H3e9UWEQbi$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM on Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">,
Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.<span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><br>
Evan LaCross, MPA</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Programming Services Officer, Public Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#004678;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">401-799-0100 (c)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="mailto:evan.lacross@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">evan.lacross@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
</span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">(E);
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
(W)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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